[ron178]

In a triple-car release targeting three Honda models, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) has discovered differences in their construction and safety specification compared to European models, which the consumer body says hindered the extension of their Euro NCAP ratings to the Land Down Under.



The 11th-gen Honda Civic i-VTEC is sold in Australia with fewer airbags, less intelligent seatbelt reminders and a manual speedlimiter (as opposed to ISA in the European one), and ANCAP has declared it 'Unrated'. The Civic e:HEV, however, has been awarded 5 stars.

The Honda CR-V was awarded a dual rating by Euro NCAP last year — 4 stars with Honda's vanilla "Sensing" camera-only ADAS suite, and 5 with optional "Sensing 360", a more advanced system with corner radars. But Australian models do not offer "Sensing 360" and are given 4 stars across the range.

But what is perhaps most curious is the Honda ZR-V: ANCAP says that it is missing a beam in the rear door, and has a different front bumper beam, the latter affecting test results in pedestrian impact locations. ANCAP says that although the former did not affect test results, Honda haven't been able to explain the difference.

Originally Posted by Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP CEO

What we’re seeing here are manufacturers consciously providing Australian and New Zealand consumers with products that do not match the same levels of safety provided to European consumers, and no doubt consumers will be surprised to learn of these differences

ANCAP has also confirmed an upcoming result for the new (Australian) Swift.

Suzuki Australia has informed ANCAP that the safety specification of Swift vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand is different to those sold in Europe. Without testing of locally-supplied vehicles the safety rating is unknown. ANCAP is currently undertaking testing of the locally-supplied Swift to determine its safety performance. A result will be released upon completion of local testing.

Source

[AJ56]

Sad to the day the least, even if it’s say a few hundred dollars in cost savings, I’d happily pay the difference to get a structurally better vehicle no question. Obviously car mfg. data about sales and price sensitivity across different markets seems to suggest otherwise.

At least offer the safer/better built models as an option for those who want the best possible build. Let consumers decide.